Why we SHOULDN'T hide our combat levels

Aquw VettelS 776 · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 9:00 am

This week's show featured a rant which has been doing the rounds for some years now- the ability to hide our combat levels in non-combat areas and replace it with your total level, which is supposedly more relevant.

I'm not so sure about this. Sure, we're not stabbing and firing arrows at each other in Varrock west bank, but surely the combat is still more useful, or at least of more interest than someone's total level. When was the last time you needed to know someone's total level? Never. However, combat levels are extremely important, and even when you're not in a combat situation, it tells you more about a person than the total level.

It was said that the combat level represents less than half of the skills in RuneScape, which is true. Total levels on the other hand are a combined representation of all 24 skills. But think about it- how useful is that. The total level tell you that someone has, say, a combined level of 1368, but you have no way of knowing how this is distributed amongst the 24 skills.

So in fact, on the contrary, a statistic that tells you less about a player actually tells you a lot more. Total levels may be nice to show off to other people, but in reality they're utterly useless to anyone. Combat levels on the other hand are extememly useful in combat situations, and in non-combat areas, what does it matter that people can see them?!

Please discuss and express your views on this matter.

Adbot · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 9:00 am

Jess · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 11:34 am

I don't think they should change anything. Keep combat up, there's nothing wrong with it as it is. I think if they did make it so that total levels showed, people would just start making fun of people for having low/high total levels...Why change it?

colinsoccer123 · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 12:36 pm

If Jagex did make a change I'd support an option that a player can choose what they see (on other players). There could be 3 options, see combat only, see total level only and see combat and total level. I would really hate it if they forced a total level only change on us.

Aquw VettelS 776 · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 12:44 pm

Quote:

I don't think they should change anything. Keep combat up, there's nothing wrong with it as it is. I think if they did make it so that total levels showed, people would just start making fun of people for having low/high total levels...Why change it?

Exactly- there's no point in changing it

Quote:

If Jagex did make a change I'd support an option that a player can choose what they see (on other players). There could be 3 options, see combat only, see total level only and see combat and total level. I would really hate it if they forced a total level only change on us.

Yes, this would be much better than letting people chose what other people see.

Jason · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 3:10 pm

colinsoccer123 wrote:

If Jagex did make a change I'd support an option that a player can choose what they see (on other players). There could be 3 options, see combat only, see total level only and see combat and total level. I would really hate it if they forced a total level only change on us.

I like this. I dont think anything is wrong now. But if there were to be a change, that would be the way to go.

power crazy · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 3:15 pm

MMORPG games like Runescape are completely based off the combat system for the most part. I don't see why we wouldn't show the combat lvls. Although Shane's idea of a showing a certain skill wouldn't be too bad but I think we should be the ones to decide what we see in other players.

Adbot · **Posted:** March 15th, 2009, 3:15 pm

ultimasayan · **Posted:** March 16th, 2009, 9:17 am

i dont think this is nessary due the the fact that u can check the stats no highscore...

MTX leader · **Posted:** March 16th, 2009, 12:10 pm

colinsoccer123 wrote:

If Jagex did make a change I'd support an option that a player can choose what they see (on other players). There could be 3 options, see combat only, see total level only and see combat and total level. I would really hate it if they forced a total level only change on us.

That does sound like a great idea, and they should also have an option where you right click on a person and you could see there combat level with their total level and a list of their levels like how it is in the high scores.

Yours Truly

Owen1892 · **Posted:** March 16th, 2009, 1:02 pm

I don't want to see other people's total level or anything else but combat. Like in the Burthrope games room, when you challenge a player, it says their rank instead of their combat level, it really annoys me trying to figure out their cb level on the highscore. So I don't want to change anything...other than the games room of course.

Pat · **Posted:** March 16th, 2009, 9:27 pm

Maybe people should just swallow their pride and play the game. Since when was showing off the entire point of runescape?

Would it be radical to show both levels?

addiv · **Posted:** March 16th, 2009, 10:24 pm

I'm more of a skiller so I could care less what everyone's combat level is. I can see where it would be useful but most of the time I'd rather see something more representative of the players accomplishments than just combat. I hope they do allow for alternatives like total level.

dafin0 · **Posted:** March 16th, 2009, 11:17 pm

I will only say this, and then i will go into more depth:

Argument #1

Well, it is kind of pointless hiding the comabt levels of players and replacing them with the total levels. It would defeat the purpose of the whole game in general. When we are in game, and we advance a combat level, isn't seeing our total level in the game menu sufficient??.
And another thing, it would be very confusing for people that have just started the game.

Well, i suppose you could go up to another player and say: "HA, My level is higher then yours"
Then, they would "burst your bubble and tell you to look at combat level.

Close
If they ever do do the unthinkable, They should at least give players the option of wether or not they want their combat lvl hidden. instead of right clicking, the option would be in the game interface itself. And the other player can choose wether or not he wants this displayed.

cheers, dafin0 :lol:

whitedragon · **Posted:** March 17th, 2009, 9:20 am

I also believe that if there is a change they should make it optional of what exactly you see because just like addiv said there are people on runescape who dont really care all that much about combat skill.

The Killer · **Posted:** March 17th, 2009, 12:47 pm

what we really need is a total exp in the form of *M beside the combat level.

then at least ill be (122+9)(124M)

Jonpopnycorn · **Posted:** March 17th, 2009, 4:47 pm

It'd be ok

Pros:
Low Combat people won't be judged

Cons:
Low Total people will be judged